Phoebe Waller-Bridge's 'Fleabag' is NOT Autobiographical! | Close Up With THR

Phoebe Waller-Bridge ('Fleabag') joins The Hollywood Reporter for this season's Comedy Showrunner Roundtable. In this episode of Close Up she shares the often misconstrued fact that 'Fleabag' is autobiographical.

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Scott Silveri ('Speechless'), David Mandel ('Veep'), Judd Apatow ('Girls', 'Crashing', 'Love'), Gloria Calderon Kellett ('One Dat at a Time') and Kenya Barris ('Black-ish').

[valhalla]

Her difficulty with the questions about "feminist writing" is very relatable. It's not crazy to feel uncomfortable about that, because even if you are identifying with feminism in some way, in that moment, you are still reduced to your gender. You are seen as a _female_ writer that writes about _female_ issues... no one entertains the thought that perhaps these issues could relate on a larger scale. Women are constantly presumed to identify with male characters and perspectives. No one interprets them as male. They are just perspectives. But when a woman gives a perspective it's always reduced to gender.

[extenebrislux]

I can't believe that Fleabag and Killing Eve come from the same person.

[uncleiroh]

U can be a writer that’s also a feminist without being a “feminist writer”. Geniuses like Phoebe don’t write with that intention, rather they’re wired in a way that it comes through naturally and organically. There’s a difference.

[shukry]

When i discovered Phoebe, people kept telling me to watch Fleabag. I thought it was available on Netflix, so i searched her name on Netflix. After a few episodes i just realised i was watching Crashing the whole time, because i didnt really paid attention to the title. I just know shes in it. The show was great! Then knowing theres another entire show written and starred by her, i felt like i was receiving a gift! I binged all seasons of Fleabag in the span of 1 day and devastated knowing it is ended in second season, though it was a perfect ending. Now i just binged Killing Eve, you can say im obsessed to this woman. Genius af

[ndRatePetronius]

I love how the thing that TRULY impresses all the other comedy show runners in this round table is not that Phoebe was in two shows simultaneously but that she auditioned for DOWNTON ABBEY lol.

[MorleyQ]

3:23 You can see just how quick and sharp her mind is here; she rattles off an incredibly salient point about taking pride in your work and how stress can illuminate that.

4:38 That happened to me too! I was in speech & debate in high school and performed a dramatic, tragic story about a funeral director, which was apparently hilarious the way I delivered it.

[jameshorro]

shes like a mix of keira knightly and miranda hart

[tashazalinski]

Wack. Crashing was a fave of mine, then I watched Killing Eve and I loved it. Just finished binging Fleabag, thought it was brilliant, then realised she wrote all three (and stared in two!). She’s incredible.

[s.leochapman]

She is hilarious and utterly charming. So intelligent and such a good writer. Fleabag is fantastic. She's very posh too, but doesn't come across as haughty or condescending.

[RedHaidCat]

Fabulous! Could listen to her all day.

[danielharmon]

Crashing (which you can catch on Netflix) is one of my all-time favorite comedies!

[MotorCityPhoenix]

I love Phoebe so much!! Fleabag and Crashing were SO good! She is hilarious in both!

[AB-mhnj]

I can watch her speaking all day. She is so charismatic

[juliet]

Look at these Hollywood heavyweights listening intently to this brilliantly creative woman eager to gain insight into her methodology, etc. A rare thing.

[gariavanesyan]

Phoebe Waller-Bridge builds up a powerful argument that being funny is sometimes enough to become a female comedian in this century. Even though the clip was taken from several parts of the whole interview, Bridge builds a convincing and coherent argument that follows a simple logic. Her confidence carries off in the interview, even though the other conversation-takers do not seem to share the same view.

[tittycurds]

She is such a brilliant writer. Love her!

[TheFarCobra]

She is posh sounding and sweary .... perfection!

[Beauferal]

Really enjoyed Fleabag! What a fantastic writer, actress and general visual media person! X

[saranovak]

Haha the end with the audition for Downtown Abbey. I can imagine the casting people shocked and suprised but also soooo impressed! She is incredible!

[Michael-xinb]

Quite surreal to see her on this roundtable! Wish she had been on the actress one, though.